Friction draft-rigging.



PATENTED JULY 21 1903.-

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A TTORNE Yd i i I I I l I I i l I l I l i #Q g g t 0 INVENTOR. @M BYM MWW F. 'B. TOWNSEND. FRICTION DRAFT RIGGING.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2, 1903.

NO MODEL.

WITNESSES:

m: "cams PETERS no. moroumu, WASHWDTOQG. n. c.

PATENTED JULY 21, 1903.

I. B. TOWNSEND. FRICTION DRAFT RIGGI'NG.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2- 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' INVENTOR.

B w ATTORNEYJ WITNESSES:

PATENTED JULY 21, 1903.

15. B. TOWNSEND. FRICTION DRAFT RIGGING.

APPLIUATION FILED APR. 2, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

N0 MODEL .WFY WAY RM Q WITNESSES.-

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FREDERICK B. TOWNSEND, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

Patented Jul 21, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO W. H. MINER COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

FRICTION DRAFT-RIGGING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 734,009, dated July 21, 1903. Application filed April 2, 1903. Serial No. 150,689. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK B. 'IoWN- SEND, a citizen of theUnited States, residing in Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,.have invented a new and useful Improvement in Friction Draft-Rigging, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to mechanism for resisting buffing or tensile strains and absorb- [0 ing the shock thereof, the principal application to which my invention has been designed being to the art of railway draft-rigging appliances, and more particularly those of the friction type; and my invention has for its primary object to provide an improved friction draft-rigging wherein shall be secured the combined advantages of simplicity and cheapness of construction, fewness of operating parts, economy of space occupied, di-

rectness and reliability in operation, and a large and effectively-applied friction efiect or resistance.

To this and other minor ends my invention consists in a mechanism of the character 2 named which has as its chief novel constructional characteristic the provision of a rotatable friction-block disposed with its axis of rotation at right angles to the buffing or pulling strains and one or more movable frictionblocks in frictional engagement with the rotatable friction block in association with means for causing a partial rotation of the rotatable friction -block when subjected to thrusts or strains.

It further consists, in connection with a draw-bar, a draw-bar extension, and spring, of a rotatable friction-block arranged with its axis transverse to the draw-bar, of one or more, preferably two,movablefriction-blocks 0 connected with and operated by the drawbar or its extension and frictionally engaging the rotatable frictiomblock, and means for causing the rotatable friction-block to turn as the draw-bar moves back and forth.

5 The movable friction-blocks which engage the rotatable friction-block may preferably also serve as followers for the spring or springs.

Myinvention also consists in the novel construction of parts and devices and in the novel combinations of parts and devices herein shown or described.

The rotatable friction-block is preferably in the form of a cylinder. The means for causing the rotatable friction-block to rotate in engagement with the movable frictionblocks may preferably consist of one or more lugs or projections on the stationary side plates or stop-castings in connection with corresponding notches or recesses in the rotatable friction-block. I prefer to utilize the movable friction-blocks as followers, as this reduces the number of parts and simplifies the construction.

In the accompanying drawings I haveillustrated the preferred form of my invention as embodied in a railway draft-rigging, and referring thereto Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a draftrigging wherein my improvements are incor- 7o porated, certain transverse timbers of the frame appearing in cross-section and the side plate or stop-casting nearest the-observer being removed. Fig. 2 isa top plan View of the same with the draft-rigging mechanism shown partly in horizontal section. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail in perspective of the rotatable friction-block or cylinder. Fig. 5 is a similar detail perspective of one of the movablefriction-blocks which cooperates with the rotatable frictionblock. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail'perspectives from difierent points of view of the side plates or stop-castings which support the frictionblock and movable friction-blocks or followers, illustrating the integral lugs thereon, which engage cooperating notches in the end portions of the cylindrical friction-blockto effect its partial rotation under the thrust of go the draw-bar thereon. Fig. 8 is aview similar to Fig. 3, illustrating a-modification in respect to the location of the interengaging lugs and notches for rotating the rotatable friction-block or cylinder. Fig. 9 is a detail 5 illustrating a modified form of the rotatable friction-block or cylinder having a circumferentially-corrugated surface; and Fig. 10 is a top plan view similar to Fig. 2, illustrat ing a modification in the positioning of the :00

rotatable friction-block or cylinder and a corresponding change in the location of its fulcrum-point or turning device.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates the center sills, 11 the end sill, and 12 the draft-timbers, of an ordinary car-frame constrnction.

13 designates a bulfing-block secured to the front face of the end sill and supporting the usual carry-iron 14, secured to the under side thereof, in which latter rests the draw-bar 15, provided at its outer end with the couplinghead 16 and at its inner end withthe usual draw-bar extension 17, the same being preferably in the form of a strap or yoke.

18 designates a pair of metal plates, serving as side plates or stop-castings, secnrelybolted to the opposed inner faces of the drafttim hers and provided at their opposite ends with vertical abutments 19, constituting stops for the end followers, and an upper guide 26 and a lower guide 25, the latter being removable, as hereinafter more particularly described.

24 is the rotatable friction-block, arranged at right angles to the draw-bar or to its direction of movement, and 23 23 are a pair of movable friction-blocks having each a concave friction-face 23, engaging the convex friction-s11 rface of the rotatable friction-block 24. The movable friction-blocks 23 23 are actuated by the draw-bar or its extension and are preferably located at the front and rear of the rotatable friction-block, so that they may also serve as followers for the springs 20 21.

22 is the rear end follower. The springs 20 21 abut at one end against the rear end follower :22 and at their opposite end against the adjacent movable friction-block 23. The end friction-block takes the pressure or thrust of the spring through the rotatable frictionblock 24 and its companion friction-block 23, and said end friction-block 23 abuts as a follower against the stops lf) on the side plates or stop-castings 18, just as the follower 22 abuts against said stops 19 at the opposite end.

To cause the rotatable f riction-block to turn or partially rotate between the movable friction-blocks 23 23, which engage it, as the draw-bar moves back and forth, I prefer to provide interengaging lugs or projections 25 and notches 24 on the side plates or stopcastings and on the periphery of the rotatable friction-block or cylinder 24, the lugs, stops, or projections 25 being preferably formed on the side plates or stop-castings and the notches or recesses 24 on the rotatable friction-block or cylinder 24. The lugs or projections 25 are preferably formed on the removable guides 25 of the side plates or stopcastings, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7, though the same may, if desired, be located on the upper guide 26, as illustrated in Fig. 8, or on the vertical face of the side plates or stopcastings, as illustrated in Fig. 10.

The rotatable friction-block or cylinder 24 and the movable friction-blocks or cylinders 23 and end follower 22 are all supported at their end portions by the removable guides 25 of the side plates or stop-castings, which are securely bolted thereto. The side plates or stop-castings 18, with their upper and lower guides 26 and 25 thus united, form, in effect, a pair of longitudinally-channeled cheek-plates constituting guideways and supports for the movable elements of the mechanism.

The operation is as follows: Assuming the parts to be in the relative positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which are their normal positions when free from strains on the draw-bar, when a buffing strain or shock is imparted to the draw-bar, as in the coupling operation, the rear end of the draw-bar tends to thrust inwardly the outermost of the twin movable friction-blocks or followers 23, which strain is transmitted to the cylinder 24, with a tendency to partially rotate the latter, owing to the fact that the thrust is imparted laterally of the cylinder, while the lowermost points of its surface are held by the lugs or stops 25 engaging the notches 24, and thus constituting a fulcrum or turning point about which the cylinder may roll. The thrust is transmitted thence to and through the innermost movable friction-block or follower 23 to the springs 20 and 21; but the partial rotation of the cylinder set up during this operation produces a large amount of friction between the contacting friction-faces of the movable friction-blocks or followers and the rotatable friction-block or cylinder,which absorbs aconsiderable portion of the strain, to that extent relieving the springs, especially in the way of saving them from the initial effects of severe shocks, which have often proved fatal to the springs. In this connection it is noted that an additional result of this partial rotation of the cylinder on the movable friction-blocks or followers is to force the end portions of the outermost friction-block or follower hard up against the upper inwardlyextending horizontal flanges orguides of the stop-castings 18 and to simultaneously depress the end portions of the inner follower upon the guides or plates 25, whereby additional friction is created between the followers and the stationary parts thus engaged by their end portions. It will also be observed that the lugs 25, extending, as they do, entirely across the upper faces of the supporting-plates 25, notch up into their respective stop-castings 18,thereby giving additional strength to the lugs and increased rigidity and stability to the supporting-plates themselves. In View of the strains imposed upon the plates through the lugs by the cylinder the plates 25 beneath the lugs are preferably reinforced by integral ribs 25 on the under surfaces thereof.

I have not herein shown my invention as adapted to operate in connection with the tensile strains; but it will be obvious that these strains might also be provided for in a similar way by interposing between the outermost friction-block or follower 23 and the inner end of the draw-bar a duplicate of the springs 20 and 21 and the end follower 22.

and coincident with the direction of the strains, the surface of the cylinder frictionally engaging a fixed member'embraced by the yoke. My present invention is distinguished in principle from such. a construction in several important particulars. In the first place, the cylinder is disposed transversely of the yoke, whereby it occupies less of the space required by the followers and the springs. In the second place, the opposite surfaces of the cylinder directly engage the followers themselves, both the cylinder and the followers being capable of yielding bodily and by such action creatingthe desired frictional eifect. Still again, the action of the cylinder on the followers, as above explained, automatically creates an auxiliary friction effect between the followers and their stationary supporting and guiding means.

It is evident that the device, as hereinabove described, and illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, of thedrawings, might be considerably modified by the substitution of mechanically equivalent details and otherwise without departing from the spirit and substance of the invention. For instance, the lugs or fulcrnms that engage the cylinder might be formed on the under side of the overhanging horizontal flanges of the stopcastings 18, as shown at 25 in Fig. 8, in which case the cooperating notches 24" would of course be formed in the upper portions of the cylinder ends. Also the cylinder might be disposed with its axis vertical, as shown at 24? in Fig. 10, between movable friction-blocks or followers 23 having vertically-concaved opposing faces embracing the cylinder, in which latter case also the lugs or fulcrums would take the form of a single vertical lug 25 on the inner face of one of the stop-castings, engaging a single elongated notch or groove 24, formed in and longitudinally of the opposed surface of the cylinder. In order to obtain an increased friction-surface and corresponding increased friction effect, the friction cylinder may have its surface circnmferentially corrugated, as shown at 24 in Fig. 9, in which case the concave faces of the followers engaging the same would be correspondingly corrugated. It is also evident that the rotatable member 245 or 24 need not necessarily take the form of a cylinder, so long as it has friction-faces engaging the opposed friction-faces of the movable friction-blocks or followers 23. Still further detail changes would readily suggest themselves to the mind of the mechanic skilled in this art, and all such modifications I regard as within the purview of my invention.

While I have herein shown and described my invention as embodied in a draft-rigging for railway-cars and contemplate that such will constitute its principal application, yet it is evident that the principle and substantial mechanical features thereofmight be advantageously employed in any other mechanism designed to resist buffing or tensile strains.

I claim-- 1. In a friction draft-rigging the combination with a draw-bar, draw-bar extension and spring, of a rotatable friction-block transverse to the draw-bar, and a pair of movable friction blocks in frictional engagement therewith, substantially as specified.

2. In a friction draft-rigging the combination with a draw-bar, draw-bar extension and spring, of a rotatable friction-block transverse to the draw-bar and a movable frictionblock in frictional engagement therewith, substantially as specified.

3. In a friction draft-rigging the combina- .tion with a draw-bar, draw-bar extension and spring, of a rotatable friction-block transverse to the draw-bar, a pair of movable friction-blocks in frictional engagement therewith, and means for causing said rotatable friction-block to turn as the draw-bar moves, substantially as specified.

a. In a friction draft-rigging the combination with a draw-bar, draw-bar extension and spring, of a rotatable friction-block transverse to the draw-bar and a movable frictionblock in frictional engagement therewith, and means for causing said rotatable frictionblock to turn under movement of the drawbar, substantially as specified.

5. In a friction draft-rigging the combination with a draw-bar, spring, and a pair of side plates or stop-castin gs, of a rotatable friction-block arranged transverse to the drawbar and a pair of movable friction-blocks, and interengaging devices on the rotatable friction-block and stationary stop-casting for causing the rotatable friction-block to turn, substantially as specified.

6. In a friction draft-rigging the combination with a draw-bar, draw-bar extension and spring, a pair of side plates or stop-castings having each end abutments to limit the movement of the draw-bar, and upper and lower guides, of a rotatable friction-block, having a device engaging a device on the stationary stop-casting to rotate said friction-block, and a friction-block movable with the draw-bar and engaging said rotatable friction-block, substantially as specified.

7. In a friction draft-rigging the combination with a drawbar, draw-bar extension, spring, and a pair of side plates or stop-castings having each end abutments to limit the movement of the draw-bar, and upper and lower guides, of a rotatable friction-block, having a device engaging a device on the stationary stop-casting to rotate said frictionblock, and a pair of friction-blocks movable with the draw-bar, and engaging said rotatable friction-block, substantially as specified.

8. The combination with a draw-bar, drawbar extension and spring, of a pair of side plates or stop-castings having end abutments, and upper and lower guides for the followers, of a rotatable friction-block transverse to the draw -bar, and a pair of followers having curved friction-faces engaging the curved friction surface of said rotatable frictionblock, substantially as specified.

9. The combination with a draw-bar, drawbar extension and spring of a pair of side plates or stop-castings having end abutments, and upper and lower guides for the followers, of a rotatable friction-block transverse to the draw-bar, and a pair of followers having curved friction-faces engaging the curved friction surface of said rotatable frictionblock, and means for causing the rotatable friction-block to turn as the draw-bar moves, substantially as specified.

10. In a mechanism for resisting buffing or tensile strains and absorbing the shock thereof, the combination with an endwise-movable bar, of a rotatable block having a convex friction-surface disposed with its axis of rotation across the path of movement of said bar, a follower having a concave friction-face engaging said rotatable friction-blook, and a stop engaging the peripheral portion of said friction-block whereby a lateral thrust on the latter causes a partial rotation thereof and a relative sliding movement between the frictionally-engaging curved surfaces of said friction block and follower, substantially as specified.

11. In a mechanism for resisting bufling or tensile s rains and absorbing the shock thereof, the combination with an endwise-movable bar, of a rotatable block having a convex friction-surface disposed with its axis of rotation across the path of movement of said bar, a follower having a concave friction-face engaging said rotatable friction-block, an elastic backing for said follower, and a stop engaging the peripheral portion of said frictionblock whereby a lateral thrust on the latter causes a partial rotation thereof and a relative sliding movement between the frictionally-engaging curved surfaces of said frictionblock and follower, substantially as specified.

12. In a mechanism for resisting bufiing or tensile strains and absorbing the shock thereof, the combination with an endwise-movable bar, of a rotatable block having on opposite sides thereof convex friction-surfaces disposed with its axis of rotation across the path of movement of said bar, a follower havinga concave friction-face engaging said rotatable friction-block between the latter and the end of the bar, another similar follower engaging said rotatable friction-block on its opposite side, an elastic backing for said last named follower, and a stop engaging the peripheral portion of said friction-block whereby an endwise thrust of the bar causes a partial rotation of said friction-block and a relative sliding movement between the frictionally-engaging curved surfaces of the friction-block and the followers, substantially as specified.

13. In a draft-rigging mechanism, the combination with a draw-bar and its yoke, of a rotatable friction-cylinder disposed within and transversely of said yoke, a pair of followers having concave faces frictionally engaging opposite sides of said cylinder,an elastic backing for one of said followers, fixed abutments for the other follower, and a pair of fixed plates underlying and supporting the end portions of said cylinder and followers, said plates having stops engaging and cooperating with the peripheral portion of said cylinder, substantially as specified.

14. In a draft-rigging mechanism, the combination with a draw-barand its yoke, of a rotatable friction cylinder disposed within and transversely of said yoke, a pair of followers having concave faces frictionally embracing said cylinder on opposite sides thereof, a draft and bufling spring backing one of said followers, and end followers backing said spring, and a pairof oppositely-disposinglongitudinally-channeled cheek-plates secured to the draft-timbers and constituting ways and supports for the ends of said cylinder and followers, said cheek-plates having fixed abutments for the followers and also means to engage and hold an eccentric part of the cylinder to cause a partial rotation of the latter within the followers when subjected to lateral thrusts, substantially as specified.

15. In a draft-rigging mechanism, the combination with a draw-bar and its yoke, of a rotatable friction-cylinder disposed within and transversely of said yoke, said cylinder having a pair of peripheral notches in its end portions,respectively,a pair of followers having concave faces frictionally embracing said cylinder on opposite sides thereof, a draft and bufiing spring backing one of said followers, an end follower backing said spring, and a pair of oppositely-disposed longitudinally-channeled cheek-plates secured to the draft-timbers and receiving the ends of said cylinder and followers, said cheek-plates having fixed end abutments for the followers and intermediate inwardly-extending lugs engaging said peripheral notches of the cylinder, substantially as specified.

FREDERICK B. TOWNSEN D.

Witnesses:

H. M. MUNDAY, WILLA MINNICH.

IIO 

